St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-04
Given to the President by the
Enthusiastic People Of
st. Louis.
No Pains Spared to Make the
Occasion Entirely Graft
flying.
A Reception at Which 5000
Persons Shake Cleve-
lands Hand.
The Scenes at Night---Splen-
did Examinations and a
Monster Parade.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 3.-Till this morning
the president has been the guest of
Mayor Francis, but to-day and to-mor-
row he belongs to the people. Fairer
weather could not be asked. The skies
are clear, and the general north winds
are sufficiently cool to make light over
coats desirable. The streets, cleansed
by last nights shower, are free from
dust, and everywhere along the line of
the presidents ride to the fair grounds
the sidewalks were crowded to the
curbs. The presidents carriage, drawn
by pair of black high-steppers and
followed by five other carriages pro-
vided for his travelling companions and
the local committee in charge, reached
the Francis mansion few minutes be-
fore 10 o'clock. At 10:15 the president and
Mrs. Cleveland appeared at the door of
the mansion, and were applauded by the
crowds of ladies and children that had
gathered in the park in front of the res
idence. There was noticeable absence
OF men and the dress of the people in
Dictated the preponderance of the better
classes. Maj. z. c. Rainwater entered
the carriage with the president and
wife and in a few minutes they were
moving briSkly toward the fair grounds
escorted by squad of mounted police
and the citizens committee in carriages.
Hundreds of vehicles crowded with peo-
pie awaited on Grand avenue at the Ell
trance of Vandeventer place and joined
the procession, which strung out along
the avenue for more than mile. There
was no noise whatever along the route
except the clatter of horses hOOfs on
the road and the tramp of thousands of
feet upon the beaten walks. No mishap
or incident occurred to mar the pleas
ant morning drive, and at 10:45 the
party arrived at the gate of the fair
grounds. The drive to the fair grounds
was made at a trot.
IT WAS CHILDREN'S DAY
and the youngsters were out in great
force. They. with mothers, nurses and
friends, packed the seats of the amphi-
theater and surrounding promenade to
the number of 10000. A brass band in
the pagoda in the center attempted to
make itself heard, but the Shrill-voiced
congregation made everything but the
bass drum inaudible. The visitors did
not alight. After driving round the
amphitheater track halt was made and
Mrs. Cleveland was presented by the
president of the Kindergarten school
with a handsome basket of flowers. The
children, reinforced by the band, sang
Hail Columbia" and the cortege, after
drive through the fair grounds, made
its way back to the city where they
went directly to the Merchants ex-
change. Mrs. Cleveland lid not ac-
company the president to the exchange
but was left Ell route at the residence of
the mayor, whence she went to the resi-
dence of Mrs. Seaman, where the ladies
of the city had an opportunity to pay
their respects. On arriving at the Mer-
chants exchange the president was
taken to the directors; room, where a
large number of representative citizens
from the interior of the state were in
was over the president was escorted to
the main hall of the exchange. The
immense room, which is 215 feet long
and $50 wide, was damned to its utmost
capacity with people, and the president
had difficulty in getting from the recep-
ton room to the platform. On the first
appearance of the president loud cheers
went up from the entire multitude, and
as he assembled the platform the enthu-
SiaSm was intense. Frank Galenne,
president of the merchants exchange,
introduced Mayor Francis, and declared
this the most suspicious day of st. Louis
within her history. Mayor Francis then
welcomed the president to the city and
state, and after another explosion of
cheers the president
RESPONDED AS FOLLOWS:
If I am expected TO make an extended
speech on this occasion | am afraid that /
shall disappoint you, and this / should be
sorry to do after having succeeded at last,
through much tribulation, i'll standing face
to face with my St. Louis friends. The
tribulation of which speak has arisen from
the extreme kindness of a vast number of
the American people and the cordial invita-
ton they have rendered me to stop and see
them on my way to you. Your city was the
objective point of my travel in this direction,
but it has sometimes seemed to me that every
town between Washington and here has been
represented as being directly on my route;
and it has been hard to convince their kind
and enthusiastic citizens that it would not
be entirely easy within the time at my
disposal to pay them visit. My own inclina-
ton leading in the direction of their desires,
it has been difficult matter to resist their
opportunities; but have made up my mind
the entire perplexity and disappointment
which this latter has caused, for it was
through them that | was induced to leave
home at all. l expect that anything might
say concerning your state or city in the way
of laudation or congratulation would hardly
equal your own estimate of these subjects. 1
believe there was q time when st. Louis was
determined and jealous rival of Chicago
but hope it does. While you can hardly ex
pect lookerS-on to take side in such con-
test, we are interested to the extent that such
struggle adds to the growth and improve
ment of the country at large. Both of these
cities exemplify in a wonderful degree how
completely and how speedily American EN-
ergy and business ingenuity utilize every
available element OF municipal growth, and
how every useful type of the worlds popula-
ton is assimilated to the grand purpose of
Americas expansion. | am here reminded
of what suppose to be fact. that more than
one-half your voters are of foreign birth and
parentage. The growth and increase of your
city in every way indicate, l think, that the
condition of your population thus made ap-
parent, is by no means to be deprecated, and
my observation during long residenceiin a
city similarly situated has led me to know the
value to any community of the industrious
frugal and thrifty men and women who come
from foreign lands TO find new homes with
us, who invest themselves with our citizen
ship and who are satisfied and content with
the freedom of our government, and withiour
laws and institutions. The line is easily
drawn between them and the non-assimilat-
ing immigrants who seek our shores solely
for the purpose of involving disturbance and
disadvantage to our body polite. I hope
may, without Improperly, say this much in
recognition of what has been done for ST. Louis
by its naturalized citizens as well as ipsre
membrance of many kind and valued friends
and associates of former days. / deem myself
especially fortunate in being with YOU at
fstime when the manufactures and products of
your city and the surrounding country are on
exhibition. AT your fair, one of the LARGEST
in the country, those who seek the best and
surest evidence of your substantial prosper
ity may well be satisfied. Here shall see the
things which are conclusive proof of thrift
and wealth and comfortable homes hone
to see besides, while here certain features of
your city,s life which just at this time are
usually displayed and which establish the
fact that the people of st. Louis, with all
their business engagements and with all their
toll and stirring trade, are not averse to pleas
ure and enjoyment. l hope that you will
find your visitors to be interested sight-seers
and of all things you may be assured, how
ever much you may impress us with the